Heating device



Q I Nov. 5, 1940.

L. E. SEELEY HEATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Lauren E. Seal BY @luk, CHI/v QM NJ ATTORN zS L E. SEELEY HEATING DEVICE Nov. 5, 1940.

w EI i n Patented Nov. 5, i940 omen STATES. PATENT OFFICE HEATING nnvroa Lauren E. Seeley, New Haven, Conn.

Application September 23, 1937, Serial No. 165,283

6 Claims. (Cl. 237-10) his inven n a es to a heating y desired average output. This system is objec- One of the objects of this invention is to protionable, however, in that the irregular rate of vide a heating system which is inexpensive in heat supply inevitably results in uneven temperconstruction and operation and.which operates ature. For example, if a temperature of 70 F. economically and efliciently over extended pert; is desired, and the temperature of the space is '5 ods of time. Another object is to provide a heatbelow 70 F., steam is supplied to the radiator to 8 Sy W c iS thOrOughly reliable Under raise the temperature. When/the desired temng weather conditions. Another object i perature is reached, however, the radiator conto provide a heating system by which an even, tinues to emit undesired heat, which causes desired temperature can be maintained. .-Anover-shooting" of several degrees. Similarly, '10 other object is to provide a heating system which where the actual temperature is above that de can be automatically controlled within narrow sired, and the radiator is permitted to cool, the limits. Other objects will be in part apparent cooling effect continues below the desired temand in part pointed out hereinafter. perature, this condition sometimes being referred 15 The invention accordingly consists in the feato as cold '70. V II tures of construction, combinations of elements, Other systems employ partial radiator heating,

arrangements of parts and in the several steps which requires a steady source of steam, the'fiow and relation and order of each of the same to one of which to the radiators is constricted to the or more of the others, all as will be illustratively rate desired. Such constrictions are often noisy,

described herein, and the scope of the application become clogged, and are otherwise troublesome 20 of which will be indicated in the following and objectionable. Furthermore, they often claims. need manipulation which the average individual In the accompanying drawings in which are is incapable of properly effecting. shown several of the various possible embodi- Still other systems are characterized by conmerits of my invention; trols for regulating the pressure of the steam in '25 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a one-pipe the radiator and this necessitates control of steam heating system having control equipment steam pressures which, are sub-atmospheric.

applied thereto; Such systems are usually'objectionably compli- Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a two-pipe cated, expensive and are subject to only limited :0 heating system with control equipment applied control.

thereto; It is accordingly another object of this inven- Figure .3 is a partially diagrammatic sectional tion to provide a heating systemand method elevation of a regulating valve for either of the of heating which obviates the above difliculties,

systems shown -in Figures 1 and 2; and, in addition to many others. 5 Figure 4 is a partially diagrammatic sectional Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, a

elevation of a modified formof the valve shown steam boiler ID has connected thereto a riser II in Figure 3. which communicates with any desired number Similar reference characters refer to similar of radiators l2. Radiator I2 is connected to riser 5 parts throughout the various views of the draw- II by a steam inlet I3 and a trap generally in- 4Q ing's. dicated at H, the purpose of which will be point- 40 As conducive to a clearer understanding of cered out hereinafter. Thus steam generated in tain features of this invention, it might be noted boiler ill flows, upwardly through riser Iland that where it is desired to maintain a temperaenters radiator l2 by way of inlet I3, the condenture level in a space, the heat radiation of the sate flowing from the bottom of the radiator radiator should correspond to the heat loss from through trap l4 and back to the boiler through the space. The amount of radiation for a given riser ll. space is usually apportioned to radiate sufli'cient Steam will flow into radiator I! as long as there heat to compensate the heat loss in severe weathis no air trapped in the radiator. Because of difer. It follows that this maximum radiation is ferent specific gravities of steam and air, any 50 often greatly in excess of that needed in less seair trapped in radiator l2 will lie in the bottom 5 verse weather, and accordingly the radiation thereof and prevent entry of steam, unless the should be controlled. Various systems and air can escape. Accordingly, that part of the methods are used in an attempt to control heat radiator in which the air is trapped will not emit radiation, one system being characterizedbyinheat. From this it follows that by controlling an termittent heating of the radi tor to provide a the amount of air in the radiator, the amount of 66 effective heating surface thereof can be completely controlled.

To this end, still referring to Figure 1, I have provided an air valve generally indicated at I5 and having an electric operator 34. The valve is preferably connected to the radiator at the opening commonly provided for a valve, this opening generally being about a third of the distance from the bottom of the radiator. Valve I5 is connected to an air inlet pipe I6, which is in turn connected to a main air line I I joined to an air pressure tank I8. Air pressure in tank I8 is maintained by a suitable compressor I8 driven and air line I! with a regulator 23 interposed therebetween. Regulator 23 has a diaphragm 24 dividing it into a steam chamber 25 and an air chamber 26 respectively connected to pipes 2| and 22. Thus the pressures in steam chamber 25 and air chamber 26 correspond respectively with the steam pressure in riser II and air pressure in air line H. A spring 24a is tensioned against diaphragm 24 pressing it toward air chamber 26 so that the air pressure must work against the steam pressure and the spring to force the diaphragm in the direction of the steam chamber. A stem 2'! is suitably clamped to diaphragm 24 and a switch arm 28 is secured to the exposed end of stem 21, Thus when the air pressure in chamber 26 falls below a predetermined minimum, the steam pressure in chamber 25 forces diaphragm 24 downwardly causing arm 28 to bridge a pair of contacts 28 and 30. This closes a circuit to motor 20 including leads 3I, 32 and a battery 33. When this circuit is closed, motor 20 operates compressor I8 to raise the air pressure in tank I8 until diaphragm 24 in valve 23 is forced upwardly by air pressure in excess of the steam pressure and the tension of spring 24a. Spring 24a is adjusted to allow for the maintenance of an air pressure in tank I8 and its connected parts somewhat in excess of the steam pressure; in fact this pressure must be high enough to drive steam from the radiators, as will be presently described.

As will be hereinafter described, valve I is suitably ported to permit flow of air into-radiator I2 by way of pipe I6 and channels or ports 38 and 31 or to permit flow of air out of the radiator through channel or port 38 to the atmosphere. Ports 3! and 38 in valve I5 preferably are controlled by a double throw thermostatic switch 35 which is responsive to temperature conditions in the space to be heated. Switch 35 has a pair of stationary contacts I0 and 81 respectively connected to operator 34' by leads 68 and 86. The switch also has a movable contact 12 connected to a power source 68 which in turn is connected to operator 34 by a lead 61. A thermostatic bimetal arm 'I I, which moves in accordance with temperature changes, effects movement of movable contact I2 to engage either contact I0 or 87. Depending on which contact is engaged, one of two possible circuits including operator 34, may be established. Such circuits actuate valves I5 to let air into radiator I2 or permit escape of air therefrom, as will be described in, detail hereinbelow. Thus, if heat is demanded by the thermostatic switch, a circuit is made to operator 34 to operate Valve I5 which causes opening ofl connection of ports 31 and 38 to permit air to flow from radiator I2. If there is too much heat in the space, thermostatic switch 35 reacts to connect ports 31 and 38 in valve trap I4 is provided, the trap having suitable.

partitions Na and MD which trap condensate and form an airlock. When the space is at the desired temperature, thermostatic switch 35 opens and both ports 31 and 38 in valve I5 close. Thus the temperature of radiator I2 will remain substantially constant because steam may flow" thereto and fill that part of the radiator not occupied by air. As the steam in the radiator condenses it is free to flow through trap I4 and back to the boiler. Consequently the radiator is constantly heated in contradistinction to intermittent heating thereof, thus avoiding the necessity for mechanism manually or automatically operable to shut off or open the steam supply. Also objectionable pounding noises are obviated. Furthermore, it is not necessary to constrict the flow of steam, i. e., vary the flow rate thereof.

Referring now to Figure 3, valve I5 comprises a body I50 in which are formed air channels or ports 36, 31, 38 and 38 (see Figure 1 for relationship of channels 31, 38 and 38 to radiator I2). A head 40 (Figure 3) is suitably secured to one side ofi valve body I50 and is provided with air channels 4| and 42 which connect with an air chamber 43 formed in the head. Channels 4| and 42 communicate with channels 38 and 36 respectively of valve body I50. A second head 44 is suitably secured to the other side of valve body I50, this head being provided with air channels 45 and 46 which communicate with an air chamber 41 and which register respectively with channels 38 and 36 in valve body I50. It will now appear that heads 40 and 44 are substantially similar and accordingly head 40 will hereinafter be termed the inlet head whereas head 44 will be termed the outlet head."

Inlet head 40 is preferably provided with several projecting supports 48 to which are secured a mounting ring 48 and a supporting plate 50, ring 48 and plate 50 being held in spaced relationship on the top of head 40 by spacers 5I and 52. Screws 53 extend through plate 50, ring 48 and spacers 5I and 52 and are threaded into projecting supports 48 to hold the several parts in related assembly.

Mounting ring 48 has an annular shoulder 54 formed therein to support a bimetallic disc 55 which is centrally perforated to receive a valve stem 56, the disc being secured to the stem by suitable nuts 51 and 58 which are threaded on stem 56 to clamp disc 55 therebetween. The lower end of stem 56 carries a needle valve 58 which seats in channel 42 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The bimetallic disc is so formed that upon being heated it warps upwardly to raise valve stem 56 and needle valve 58.

To heat bimetallic disc 55 I provide a resistance coil 60 mounted on a suitable insulating disc 6I which is secured in any suitable manner to stem 56 so as to move therewith. The opposite ends of coil 60 are connected to terminals 62 and 63 which are mounted in any suitable manner in supporting plate 50.

I also prefer to mount on plate 50 a binding the other end of which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with a stationary contact 66 secured to terminal 62. The central portion 65a of contact 65 is suitably clamped to the upper end of valve stem 56 so that movement of the valve stem eifects upward or downward movement of contact 65. A pair of leads 61 and 68 are secured respectively to binding post 64 and terminal 63, lead 6'! connecting with one side of power source 69 and lead 68 connecting with a stationary contact 10 mounted in thermostatic switch 35. Thermostatic switch 35 includes a bimetal coil H which is responsive to variations in temperature to move a contact arm 12. Members 1| is connected to the other side of power source 69 by a lead 13. Thus when the temperature rises and less heat is desired, bimetal moves contact 12 against contact 19, completing a circuit to resistance coil 60. This circuit includes lead 61, binding post 64, contact 65, contact 66 from the power source to the coil and terminal 63, lead 68, contacts 10 and I2 and lead 13 from the coil to the power source. Coil thus heats bimetal disc causing it to snap upwardly lifting needle valve 59 out of channel 42 and permitting communication between channels 4| and 42 by way of chamber 43.

Air channel 38 is suitably connected to air inlet l6 (Figure 1) and air channel 31 (Figure 3) is suitably connected to the radiator. Accordingly when needle valve 59 is liftedas above described, air iiows through channels 38 and 4!. chamber 43 and channels 42, 36 and 31 into radiator l2 (Figure 1). This flow of air is not steady, however, because when valve stem 56 (Figure 3) lifts needle valve 59 upwardly, contacts 65 and 66 are separated, breaking the circuit to resistance 66, which then cools to permit bimetal disc 55 to cool and snap back from its warped position. Thus needle valve 59 reseats in channel 42 and stops the flow of air from air line I6 to the radiator. However, when the needle valve is so seated, contacts 65 and 66 reengage to establish the circuit to resistance 60 which again heats bimetal disc 55, causing it to warp and reopen the valve. This intermittent opening and closing of the valve continues until the effective heating area of radiator |2 (Figure 1) has been sufficiently decreased to permit the temperature of the space to fall to the desired value. When this temperature is reached bimetal (Figure 3), in thermostatic switch 35 reacts to separate contacts 16 and 72, thus breaking the circuit to the resistance and preventing further operation of the valve.

Because channel 42, into which needle valve 59 seats, is small, and also because of the intermittent operation of the valve, air is metered into the radiator at a relatively slow rate to decrease gradually the effective heating surface thereof. This gradual decrease corresponds more nearly to the normal heat loss of the space. The temperature of the radiator does not vary abruptly, so the heat output of the radiator substantially corresponds to the heat loss of the space when the critical temperature is reached; in this manner the cold 70 condition mentioned above is avoided.

Referring to Figure 3, outlet head 44 of valve 5 is provided with mechanism substantially similar to that associated with inlet head 40. Thus there is secured to outlet head 44 a bimetal disc 14, a mounting plate 15, an insulating plate "|6, a heating coil 11, a valve steam 18, a needle valve 19, contacts and 8|, terminals 82 and 83, a

binding post 84, and leads 85 and 86. All of these parts are substantially identical to the analogous parts. of inlet head 40 hereinbefore described, and operate in substantially the same mariner.

Assuming that the temperature in the space to be heated rises above the desired degree, the thermostat bimetal moves contact 12 against contact 81, thus completing a circuit from power source 69 to resistance This circuit includes lead 85, post 84, contacts 60 and 8| from the power source to the resistance, and terminal 82, lead 86, contacts 8'! and 82, coil H and lead 13 from the resistance to the power source. When bimetal disc 14 becomes heated it warps downwardly as viewed in Figure 3 and draws needle valve 19 out of channel 46 thus connecting channels 45 and 46 by way of chamber 41. Channel 45 communicates with exhaust channel 39 (Figure 1). Thus air is free to flow from the radiator through channels 31 and 46 (Figure 3), chamber 41, and channels 45 and 39 to the atmosphere. However, when valve stem 18 moves to unseat needle valve 19, contacts 80 and 8| are disengaged, thus breaking the circuit to resistance TI to permit bimetal disc 14 to cool off and seat needle valve 19 in channel 46. Thus needle valve 19 seats and unseats intermittently as described above with respect to needle valve 59, and'when sufiicient air has escaped in intermittent flow from the radiator so that the effective heating surface thereof has increased sufficiently to attain the desired temperature, thermostat bi etal reacts to disengage contacts 12 and 1 to break the circuit of resistance 11 and prevent further escape of air from the radiator.

As pointed out above the size of the channels" which may enter by reason of the displacement of the air. While the valve is closed this addi-, tional steam increases the effective heating sur face or area of the radiator and the additional heat units may be enough without a further actuation of the valve to raise the temperature to its critical point where the thermostat is affected to stop the operation of the air valve. If the thermostat is so affected, a further actuation of the valve to increase the effective heating surface is prevented, and the condition above referred to as overshooting is prevented. Accordingly the temperature of the radiator does not exceed the desired degree and the temperature of the space does not -rise above the predetermined desired value, all which results in a smooth, graduated control.

It should also be noted that the relatively inexpensive one-pipe system is ideally suited to this method of control, although the two'pipe system can also be used, as described herein'oelow. Furthermore where an intermittently operated fuel burner, such as an oil burner or a coal stoker, is used in conjunction with conventional heating systems, all radiators do not heat up at the same time and often the more remote radiators do not get enough heat. This results in uneven and unsatisfactory temperatures throughout the building. With my system, more or less steam is in every radiator all of the time, each according to its need. Also the alternate heating up and cooling down which characterizes the conventional intermittent systems causes banging and knocking in the pipes and radiators. Since there is no alternate heating and cooling in my system, in respect to the fuel burner, the objectionable noises are precluded as the flow of steam to the radiators is'steady and in the exact amount required, and the load on the boiler can never exceed the radiator load plus piping. From this it follows that a smaller boiler can be used or a smaller flame can be used in a converted boiler, thus giving higher efliciency. Also the boiler need not have great pick-up or heating-up capacity and thus a boiler whose original capacity was too small for its load will operate efficiently where my system is employed.

It may now be seen that the intermittent inflow and outflow of air to and from the radiator results in an extremely sensitive regulation of the effective heating surface thereof, and the desired temperature of the space is maintained at a substantially constant degree. In this connection it might be noted that the intermittent systems commonly use only one thermostat to control the boiler heater thus to regulate temperatures for an entire house or building. Obviously different temperatures will prevail in different portions of the house, regardless of the temperature desired because of factors of exposure, window openings, etc. When my heating system is used, radiation is proportioned according to the needs of each room. Individual room temperature control is one of the best features of my heating system and serves further to distinguish it from the conventional intermittent systems, as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Because of the intermittent making and breaking of contacts 55 and 66 and contacts and 8I of valve. I5 (Figure 3) a certain amount of interference is created which, might affect radio reception. Such interference might be eliminated in the valve shown in Figure 3. However, I have provided a valve generally indicated at 88 (Figure 4) which cuts down such interference considerably.

This valve comprises a valve body 89 having air channels 90, 9I, 92, and 93. Channels and 9I communicate respectively with a pair of air chambers and 96, channels 92 and 93 also com-' municating respectively with chambers 95 and 96. The ends of channels 9| and 92 provide convenient valve ports in which a pair of needle valves 91 and 98 seat respectively. Needle valve 91 is secured to one end of a threaded valve stem 99, the upper end of which receives a nut I00. Nut I00 has a shoulder IOI against which a bimetal disc I02 is clamped by a nut I03 threaded on a reduced end of nut I00. The periphery of bimetal disc I02 rests in a suitable shoulder I04 formed in a supporting ring I05, and the upper end of valve stem 9I extends through the ring and supp rts an insulating disc I06 on the underside of which a resistance I01 is secured. The opposite ends of this resistance are electrically connected respectively to a pair of terminals I08 and I09 suitably mounted in a supporting plate IIO. A pair of leads III and H2 are connected respectively to terminals I08 and I09. Supporting plate I I0 and ring I05 are held in spaced relationship on valve body 89 by means of spacers I I9 and H4 through which screws II5 extend; screws II5 are threaded into valve body 89. This part of valve 88 accordingly comprises what will hereinafter be termined the outlet end of the valve, the other end of the valve accordingly being described as the inlet end.

The inlet end, accordingly, comprises parts substantially similar to those comprising the outlet end. Thus there is secured to valve body 89 a supporting ring IIS, a supporting plate II1,'a

bimetal disc II8, an insulating disc II9, a resistance I20 and terminals I2I and I22, connected respectively to leads I23 and I 24. Needle valve 98 is connected to bimetal I I8 by a stem I25.

Leads III and H2 are connected respectively to thermostatic switch contact 10 and power source 59. Leads I23 and I24 are connected respectively to thermostatic switch contact 81 and power source 69. Assuming that the thermostat is set at the desired temperature, a rise above that temperature causes contact 12 to engage contact 81, thus establishing a circuit between power source 69 and resistance I20 by way of lead I24, terminal I22, resistance I20, terminal I2I and lead I 23. back to source 69. Heating of this resistance warps bimetal II8 downwardly moving stem I25 to draw needle valve 98 from its seat in channel 9 I. As channel 9I is connected to air inlet I6 (Figure 1) air flows through channel 9| (Figure 4), chamber 96, and channel 93 into the radiator, thus increasing the amount ofair in the radiator and accordingly decreasing the effective heating surface thereof. When the temperature of the space falls to the desired degree, thermostatic switch 35 reacts to break contact between contacts 12 and 81, thus breaking the circuit of resistance I20 and permitting bimetal II8 to cool. When cool, the bimetal snaps needle valve 98 into its seat to close channel 9],

to prevent the entrance of air into the radiator.

As air escapes from the radiator, steam enters aspointed out above until the effective heating surface of the radiator is increased to that point which provides sufficient heat radiation to raise the temperature of the space to the desired degree. tacts 10 and 12 separate and break the circuit to resistance I01, permitting bimetal I02 to cool and snap needle valve 91 into its seated position thus preventing further escape of air from the radiator and accordingly additional increase of its effective heating surface.

Preferably air channel 93 opens into a larger channel I25 having a check Valve therein comprising a ball I26 and a nipple I21, which permit flow of air in the direction of the arrow but prevent opposite air flow.

It may now be seen that needle valves 91 and 98 do not operate intermittently in the manner of needle valves 59 and 19 of valve I5 (Figure 3). Accordingly valves 91-and 98 (Figure 4) should not open aswide as needle valves 59 and 19 as the average rate and volume of flow of air through When this temperature is obtained, coneach type of valve should be substantially constant. If needle valves 91 and 98 (Figure 4) opened as wide as needle valves 59 and 19 (Figure 3) the radiator might become too hot or too cool. Accordingly, referring to needle valve 91 (Figure 4) as an example, the extent of opening of this valve is adjustable by manipulation of nut I on stem 99. According to the position of the nut on the valve stem the travel of the valve is limited.

It may now be seen that air valve '88 may be used in the system shown in Figure 1, the operation of the system being similar except that radio interference is materially diminished.

-Referring now to Figure 2, wherein I show a conventional two-pipe system, a boiler I28 is connected to a radiator I29 by a riser I38. Steam thus flows from the boiler through. riser I30 to radiator I29 and the condensate is drained from the radiator through a trap I3I similar to trap I4 (Figure l) and through a return I32 (Figure 2) back to boiler I28. Trap I3I has a pair of parts I 33 and I34 which permit drainage of the condensate but which trap the air in the radiator. Riser I38 and return I32 are connected by a pipe I35 which equalizes the steam pressure on both sides of trap I3I to prevent the condensate from being blown out of trap I3I and breaking the air trap. Air valve I is attached to radiator I29 substantially the same as described with respect to radiator I8 in Figure 1 and controls the amount of air flowing into or out of the radiator in the manner described in accordance to the dictates of thermostatic switch 35. The air pressure is slightly above the steam pressure and is regulated by way of tank 18 and regulator 23 as described hereinabove. It will be seen accordingly that the principle difference between the one and two-pipe systems is the separate return I32 and the connecting pipe I35 between the riser and return. Otherwise the two-pipe system is substantially the same as the one-pipe system. In so far as the operation of air valve I5 is concerned, both systems are substantially similar although there are particular advantages for my system when used in the single pipe arrangement.

It should now be noted that the boiler in either of'the systems shown in Figures 1 and 4 may utilize as a source of heat an automatic oil or coal burner, operation of which may be controlled in any suitable manner to maintain a substantially constant head of steam, as for example by a pressurestat which controls the fuel burner in accordance with boiler pressure. As the steam is always free to flow and does flow at a substantially constant rate to the radiators, all of the valving which would otherwise be necessary is obviated and danger of boiler explosion is precluded. Furthermore, with reference to Figure 1, wherein a system of radiators is shown, each radiator may be under the control of a single thermostat, in contradistinction to the conventional systems wherein one thermostat controls the operation of the original source of heat. Thus the temperature of each of several connected or disconnected rooms, for example, may be maintained at substantially any desired degree merely through adjustment of the thermostat in control of each radiator. It also appears that if desired one thermostat may be connected to control all radiators.

Thus I have provided a heating system and a method of heating which accomplishes the several objects set forth in a thoroughly practical and efiicient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the effective heating surface of the radiator, of a valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a pair of fluid flow controlling parts, one of said parts being operable to admit said fluid to said radiator to reduce the effective heating area thereof and the other of said parts being operable to effect escape of said fluid from said radiator to increase the effective heating area. thereof, means for intermittently operating either of said parts independently of each other whereby said fluid is metered into or out of the radiator to vary gradually its efiective heating surface, and thermostatic means exclusively responsive to the temperature of the room in which the radiator is located for effecting actuation of said operating means.

2. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the effective heatin'g'surface of the radiator, of a valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a pair of fluid flow controlling parts operable between open and closed positions, means forintermittently opening and closing one of said parts to gradually meter fluid into said radiator to decrease its effective heating surface, means for intermittently opening and closing the other of said parts to meter fluid from said radiator to increase its effective heating surface, said parts being adapted to operate independently of each other, and thermostatic means exclusively responsive to the temperature of the room in which the radiator is located for effecting actuation of one or the other of said operating means as the temperature of the room varies.

3. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the effective heating surface of the radiator, of a valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a pair of fluid flow controlling parts, one of said parts being operable to admit said fluid to said radiator and the other of said parts being operable to effect escape of said fluid from said radiator, thermally responsive means for intermittently operating either of said parts independently of each other, whereby said fluid is metered into or out of the radiator to gradually vary its effective heating surface, means for heating said thermally responsive means, and thermostatic means exclusively responsive to the temperature of the room in which the radiator is located for energizing said heating means.

4. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the effective heating surface of the radiator, of a valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and operable to intermittently admit fluid into said radiator to decrease the effective heating area thereof, a heat responsive member connected to said valve and adapted to operate the valve as its temperature varies, a second valve operable to intermittently exhaust fluid from said radiator to increase the effective heating area thereof, a second heat responsive member connected to said second valve and adapted to operate said second valve if its temperature varies, means for heating said heat responsive members, and a thermostat exclusively responsive to the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding said radiator for effecting energization of said heating means to actuate one or the other of said valves.

5. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the effective heating surface of the radiator, of a valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid flow controlling part, said part being operable to admit said fluid to said radiator, a thermally responsive member connected to said part and adapted when heated ly responsive member, and thermostatic means exclusively responsive to the temperature of the room in which the radiator is located for effecting energization of said heating means.

6. The combination with a steam heating system utilizing a radiator wherein the admission of a fluid to or the escape of a fluid from the radiator is controlled to regulate the eflfective heating surface of the radiator, of a. valve connected to the radiator and to a source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid flow controlling part, said part being operable to admit said fluid to said radiator, a thermally responsive member connected to said part and adapted when heated to move said part to one operative position and when cooled to move said part to another operative position, means for heating said thermally responsive member, means associated with said thermally responsive member for eflecting deenergization of said heating means when said member goes to one of its operative positions, whereby said member and accordingly said part operates, intermittently to meter the fluid flow and thereby gradually vary the efiective heating surface of the radiator, and thermostatic means exclusively responsive to the temperature of the room in'which the radiator is located for efiecting energization of said heating means.

LAUREN E. SEELEY. 

